Future of Mitsubishi ASX still in limbo for Oz

The Mitsubishi ASX is one of Australia’s most popular small SUVs, yet a replacement for the aging first-generation model – which dates back to 2010 – remains a mystery.

The ‘second-generation’ Mitsubishi ASX was revealed in Europe last September, but the rebadged Renault Captur appears unlikely to make it Down Under given it is currently produced exclusively for left-hand drive markets.

However, high-ranking executives from Mitsubishi Motors Corporation revealed to Australian media during a recent meeting at the firm’s Tokyo-based head office that more than one option is on the table for the local ASX’s replacement.

“Of course, there are many choices for us – well, not so many – but more than one,” said Koichi Namiki, MMC’s Executive Officer responsible for Product Strategy.

Those options could include upgrading de-specced versions of a small SUV – based on the Mitsubishi XFC concept – to be built for ASEAN markets including Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam, or introducing another off-the-shelf product from the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance (if not the Captur).

“[It’s] not decided. One idea is of course [is to] utilise the product for the ASEAN regions, if it works, and there may be a chance for us to utilise some of the alliance vehicles. But again, in the future, we would like to have a very attractive line-up for Australia,” said Namiki-san.

“We put Australia as a top priority region, that’s for sure. We have not come up with the concrete [plan] or something we can tell [you].”

Namiki said Australian customers would be happy to accept a rebadged Renault as an ASX replacement, as long as it’s done right.

“I think so, if the product itself is a good one. If it’s not, then of course there is no possibility,” he said.

“We [have] just started to sell the vehicle [Captur] in Europe and so far, customer and dealers’ perception is very, very good. It’s a good product I think, but I’m not saying we are going to introduce Captur in Australia.”

Asked more directly if there will be an ASX replacement for Australia, Namiki was coy.

“Could be. But I cannot say at this point in time.”

When questioned on the timeline for a new ASX and whether Mitsubishi Australia could cope from a sales perspective with just the Outlander, Pajero Sport and Triton until an ASX replacement arrives, Namiki said “of course not”.

But the global executive wouldn’t be drawn on an end date for the current ASX’s production and whether that might spell a small SUV-size gap in the Japanese brand’s local line-up.

“It’s difficult to say at this point in time. Basically, we are not assuming a gap for the product,” said Namiki, adding that “every product can’t last forever.”

“As we stated in this mid-term plan, we are going to concentrate in ASEAN and of course Oceania [markets] for the business growth.”

One thing Mitsubishi has decided, however, is how critical SUVs (and the Triton ute) will be to its future.

“What we are talking [about] internally is that SUV is the most important vehicle type for Mitsubishi and especially not crossover type; more authentic one,” said Namiki.

“So my idea is to focus on the SUV area. Also, of course pick-up is totally different, so we’re not trying to expand [our] vehicle range to maybe sedan, or maybe the hatchback, or the sporty cars; we just try to concentrate on SUV area.”

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